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Eastern Notes: 76ers, Rondo, Stevens, Copeland

July 4th, 2013 at 8:36pm CST by Ryan Raroque

As we continue further into the offseason, the 76ers remain the only NBA team without a head coach. When asked today if the team had begun interviewing head coaching candidates, GM Sam Hinkie was quick to avoid much comment, writes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Pompey points out that their head coaching search might not conclude until after the summer league, and that Michael Curry – one of the candidates for the job – is leading their summer league roster. He also writes that Spurs assistant Brett Brown could still figure to be another candidate, along with other NBA assistant coaches – David Fizdale of the Heat, Melvin Hunt of the Nuggets, and Chris Finch and Kelvin Sampson from the Rockets – who were at some point tied to the job as well.

Here are some more news and notes out of the Eastern Conference:   

  • A source close to Rajon Rondo says that the 27-year-old point guard is approaching the Celtics' hiring of Brad Stevens with an open mind, tweets Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.
  • Washburn wonders if Stevens would considering bringing his former assistants from Butler – namely Matthew Graves (who was recently named the coach of South Alabama in March) and Drew Cannon – onto his coaching staff in Boston, noting that there may be an update on Cannon tomorrow (Twitter links).    
  • Bob Finnan of The News-Herald confirms that Cavaliers assistant general manager David Griffin reached out to forward Chris Copeland and his agent yesterday. Finnan isn’t sure that the team would look to sign him with Clark now on board, but notes that the team does have the flexibility to sign both players.
  • Eric Pincus of Hoopsworld speculates that Brandon Jennings could be a candidate to play the upcoming year on a qualifying offer for the Bucks and become an unrestricted free agent next summer (Sulia link). 
  • With the market for small forwards drying up, the Cavs had to overpay a little bit in order to secure Earl Clark from free agency, tweets Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal. Though with Cleveland holding a team option for Clark’s second year,  Lloyd adds that the team still has a chance to keep some flexibility next summer.
  • Jan Vesely would still like to remain in the NBA once his contract expires with the Wizards after this year, according to his agent Alex Raskovic (hat tip goes to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando via Twitter). 
  • J. Michael of CSN Washington thinks that it would be wise for the Wizards to pass on a possible reunion with Antawn Jamison. 
  • In addition to Maz Trakh, John Loyer, and Bernard Smith, the Pistons are expected to add another assistant coach to Maurice Cheeks' staff on Sunday, tweets Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. 
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Eastern Links: Price, Knicks, Hinkie

June 20th, 2013 at 5:51pm CST by Ryan Raroque

Former NBA star Mark Price is in the process of joining Steve Clifford's coaching staff on the Bobcats, writes Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. Price – who had previously worked with Clifford on the Magic – figures to be an integral part of helping the team's overall shooting percentages improve. Bonnell adds that Stephen Silas will be retained and Bob Beyer is expected to join the team as another assistant. Here are some more miscellaneous notes out of the Eastern Conference this evening: 

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Odds & Ends: Brewer, Shaw, Larkin

June 6th, 2013 at 11:02pm CST by Ryan Raroque

Despite his limited role in Oklahoma City, Ronnie Brewer sounded open about a possible return to the Thunder: "I'm still very young and still have a lot of basketball left in me so if it's here or somewhere else I'll continue to play basketball. This is a great organization and (has) great players, great coaches, great fans. So hopefully I can continue to play here” (Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman reports). Here are more of tonight's miscellaneous notes:

  • Though George Karl's coaching style may fit well with GM Sam Hinkie's focus on analytics, Grantland's Zach Lowe says that one name to look out for with regard to the 76ers' head coaching vacancy is Chris Finch, who is currently an assistant to Kevin McHale with the Rockets and the head coach of Great Britain's national team. Lowe gets the sense that Hinkie is looking to build a strong relationship with a first-time NBA coach, and Finch – who also served as a coach for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers – was reportedly able to develop a good working relationship with Houston team brass while handling his responsibilities in the NBDL.  
  • As far as the Nets' coaching search goes, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News cites a source who says that Brooklyn is seeking a "fresh face," which may indicate that Brian Shaw is ahead of Lionel Hollins on their wish list. 
  • When it comes to Kris Humphries and the Nets, Roderick Boone of Newsday tweets that both parties would welcome a trade. 
  • Shane Larkin looked very impressive in his workout with the Jazz today, according to Mike Sorensen of the Deseret News. Steve Luhm of The Salt Lake Tribune writes that center prospect Jason Washburn made an impression during his visit with Utah as well. 
  • Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee says that one name to look out for as a possible assistant coach for Michael Malone's staff is Roy Rogers, who worked as an assistant for Lawrence Frank on the Pistons last season and is credited for playing a vital role in Andre Drummond's development. 
  • Marcus Thompson II of Mercury News notes that Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes of the Warriors will participate in Team USA's minicamp in July. 
  • Sean Deveney of the Sporting News opines that the era of retread coaches in the NBA is over.
  • Gene Wang of The Washington Post briefly profiles Khalif Wyatt following the 6'4" guard's workout with the Wizards earlier today. 
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Odds & Ends: Wiggins, Kings, Hinkie, Mavs

May 14th, 2013 at 9:30pm CST by Spencer Lund

The Knicks are staring at a 3-1 deficit after falling to the Pacers for the second game in-a-row tonight in Indiana, 93-82. The Pacers will look to close out the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Thursday in game 5 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal matchup.

While the now-less exciting second round of the NBA playoffs trundles on with the Spurs back at the cozy confines of AT&T Arena in San Antonio for game 5 against the Warriors, we've got more Andrew Wiggins and Sam Hinkie news, and some reports from the predraft NBA combine starting in Chicago tomorrow and going through Sunday..

 

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Sam Hinkie Talks Sixers, Analytics, D-League

May 14th, 2013 at 8:02pm CST by Spencer Lund

Sam Hinkie was named the President of Basketball Operations and General Manager for the Sixers earlier today, after formerly working as the Rockets' Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. Hinkie still needs to name a new head coach after the departure of Doug Collins, as well as figure out what to do with the Sixers' roster moving forward. He goes one-on-one with Max Rappaport at Sixers.com about his background in analytics and finance and the importance of the NBA's D-League affliates. 

On how he got his start in sports:

"Maybe it looks like a different path, but it doesn't look that way if you've lived my life. I dribbled a basketball my whole life and was consumed by it and to this day (that passion) exists. If you could have asked someone when I was a child, "Some day there'd be a job that involved basketball and math, who would be good for that?" They'd have said, "Sam has to do it."

"That's a big part of my wiring and a big part of my life, and the game's been a big part of my life, forever. I say all that knowing my pitiful playing career ended quite early and probably lasted too long, as it was."

On the intersection between math and basketball, particularly the analytical and traditional approach:

 "I think, increasingly, teams are just looking to get every edge that they can. This is maybe a relatively new frontier, at least to basketball, but it's been going on in other industries for the last several decades, one after another. To me, it's not all that surprising and, by the way, it's not the last one. There'll be a new one. There'll be how to measure a player's psychology, or wild improvements in nutrition for players, or whatever… there will be a new edge. 

"This is a place where with data, and technology, and a bunch of people focused on it, there's a bit of a sweet spot where there's a lot of progress there."

On his background in finance and how it relates to the rules in the new CBA: 

"I think it helps maybe to be able to prioritize things and have an approach to say, "What's important? And what are the key levers  here? And if I pull on each one of these, what happens?" I don't think that's a critical component to it, but, increasingly, in trades, free agents, and the like, there's salary matching and a lot that goes into it. That sort of realm feels natural to me."

On how important second round picks are especially after his time with the Rockets:

"Everywhere you can… Everywhere you can. That's one example, and you're right, the Rockets did have some success there. Every place you can find an edge, you should – the free agent market, the undrafted market, the D-League, international players, Americans playing overseas, international players playing in America, the second round. You should be looking for all those opportunities, finding whatever edge you can.

"Often times, when you find an edge, it's not for very long. People figure it out, so you have to try and exploit it, quickly, while you can."

On the importance of the D-League affiliate:

"I'm very bullish on that. I really like the idea of having a team that you have control over. It gives you an extension of your personnel department, you get all kinds of additional scouting points from your coaching staff and your personnel folks that are working down there (in the D-League). We found that to be really successful. It's, of course, great to be able to control the development with your players more. 

And one of the things I really love here is just the proximity (of the 87ers). It'll be so nice to be able to shuttle players back and forth, as appropriate, and get your players down the learning curve as fast as possible. I look forward to having that team be a tool that we can use."

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Sixers Hire Sam Hinkie As GM

May 14th, 2013 at 3:21pm CST by Luke Adams

MONDAY, 3:21: Owner Josh Harris has made it official at a press conference this afternoon, announcing Hinkie's hiring as president of basketball operations and general manager.

FRIDAY, 11:06pm: Hinkie's hiring doesn't change Thorn's situation with the team, Thorn tells Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com (Twitter link). The veteran executive is transitioning into the role of a consultant for the Sixers. Moore also clarifies that Hinkie will choose the team's next head coach.

3:04pm: DiLeo will not return to the Sixers in any capacity, according to John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter). DiLeo had been part of the Sixers' basketball operations department since the 1990/91 season.

2:53pm: According to Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News, Hinkie will also be the Sixers' new president of basketball operations, and DiLeo is "out" (Twitter links). Cooney adds that Hinkie's contract is expected to be for three or four years (Twitter link).

An official announcement from the Sixers could come as soon as next week, tweets Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com.

2:35pm: The 76ers have reached an agreement with Rockets assistant GM Sam Hinkie on a deal that will make Hinkie the Sixers' new general manager, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter).

Tony DiLeo had previously been serving as the GM in Philadelphia, but his contract was set to expire next month, making his status going forward uncertain. DiLeo has been a longtime member of the Sixers' front office and had been working with ownership on the team's coaching search, so it's unclear whether he'll be parting ways with the club or simply transitioning into a new role. I wouldn't be surprised if he moved into the team president position previously held by Rod Thorn, but it appears as if Hinkie will be the final decision-maker in basketball operations.

Before the Sixers promoted DiLeo to GM last summer, the team conducted a search that included Hinkie. According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, the two sides re-opened discussions "very recently" (Twitter link).

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76ers To Interview Zarren, Bower; Targeting Hinkie

August 22nd, 2012 at 4:25pm CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 4:25pm: Sources tell Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld that Hinkie is interested in "ascending the NBA front office ladder" for the right situation. It's not clear if the Sixers job qualifies as the "right situation" but as Ingram notes, it certainly seems like an appealing position.

TUESDAY, 12:19pm: The Sixers have added Rockets executive VP of basketball operations Sam Hinkie to their list of GM candidates, reports SI.com's Sam Amick. Philadelphia has asked for and received permission to speak to Hinkie, though it's unclear if the two sides have met yet, or if Hinkie would leave his job with the Rockets.

Amick adds that Penn is still among the candidates in the Sixers' GM search.

MONDAY, 9:20am: The 76ers continue to search for a replacement for team president Rod Thorn and will conduct at least two interviews with potential candidates this week. John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets that Philadelphia will interview Mike Zarren of the Celtics for the first time and former Hornets GM Jeff Bower for a second time.

Less than a month ago, it appeared that former Blazers exec Tom Penn was the frontrunner for the Sixers' general manager job. Since interviews are still ongoing, it seems the team is either exploring all its options or has decided to go in a different direction.

According to Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld, there is no timetable for the Sixers to make a decision, but the club would prefer to have the situation resolved by the time training camp begins. When Philadelphia finds its man, Thorn is expected to transition into an advisory role.

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